Key African Civil Societies message for COP24

It is systems go. Parties are ready to attend the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Conference, dubbed COP 24 which will take place in Katowice, Poland from 3-14 December is a crucial platform for the implementation of the various provisions of the Paris Agreement (‘the rulebook’); including, transparency, accounting, compliance, periodic assessment of collective progress and use of market-based mechanisms.Indeed, African Governments and other stakeholders endorse the “rulebook” which to them is balanced and upholds equity as well as justice. As such, the “rulebook” is a MUST- DELIVER in COP 24 to facilitate effective implementation aimed at achieving UNFCCC’s ultimate aim which is to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate.

Specific demandsAfrican Civil Societies expect specific outcomes from COP 24, all which draw from the “rulebook” and a follow up from the African Civil Societies’ submission to the Talanoa Dialogue 2018. The CSOs have consequently come up with specific demands as listed below:1. Demand 1: Global warming must be limited way below 1.5 degrees Celsius this century.2. Demand 2: Adaptation is crucial to protecting and promoting development gains, especially in Africa.3. Demand 3: Climate Financing should be long term and achieve a balance between mitigation and adaptation support.4. Demand 4: Capacity building should be enhanced under the Paris Agreement.5. Demand 5: Loss and damage-Among other things, parties should commit to full implementation of the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage6. Demand 6: Technology deployment and transfer should be supported to enhance resilience and low carbon development.7. Demand 7: Gender agenda should be enhanced in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.8. Demand 8: Use of common timeframes and enhanced ambition within the NDC process9. Demand 9: Enhanced transparency framework.

A detailed rulebook and the African CSO position can be downloaded from our website. We will also be sharing updates on COP 24 as they come.